Published 12:01 am, Wednesday, April 17, 2013

New Milford's Chris Reilly (4) celebrates with teammates Andre Beaudoin (23) and Justin Lourenco (35) after scoring the game-winning goal in New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. less

New Milford's Chris Reilly (4) celebrates with teammates Andre Beaudoin (23) and Justin Lourenco (35) after scoring the game-winning goal in New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford ... more

New Milford's AJ MacDonald shoots while defended by New Fairfield's Luke McFadden during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. less

New Milford's AJ MacDonald shoots while defended by New Fairfield's Luke McFadden during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April ... more

New Fairfield's Kyle Lutinski (8) fights for the ball with New Milford's Matt Lalli (27) during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. less

New Fairfield's Kyle Lutinski (8) fights for the ball with New Milford's Matt Lalli (27) during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, ... more

New Milford's AJ MacDonald, left, gets hit by New Fairfield's Luke McFadden during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. less

New Milford's AJ MacDonald, left, gets hit by New Fairfield's Luke McFadden during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, ... more

New Fairfield's Luke McFadden (7) is defended by New Milford's Blaine McMahon, center, and Justin Lourenco during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. less

New Fairfield's Luke McFadden (7) is defended by New Milford's Blaine McMahon, center, and Justin Lourenco during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, ... more

New Milford's Chris Reilly (4) passes while defended by New Fairfield's Luke McFadden (7) during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. less

New Milford's Chris Reilly (4) passes while defended by New Fairfield's Luke McFadden (7) during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, ... more

New Fairfield's Steven Conrad, right, fights by New Milford's David Baxter during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. less

New Fairfield's Steven Conrad, right, fights by New Milford's David Baxter during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, ... more

New Fairfield's Liam Moriarty, right, battles New Milford defenders for the ball during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. less

New Fairfield's Liam Moriarty, right, battles New Milford defenders for the ball during New Milford's 8-7 overtime win against New Fairfield at New Milford High School in New Milford, Conn. on Tuesday, April ... more

NEW MILFORD -- Christopher Reilly made a couple mistakes in the fourth quarter, but given the chance to atone for them in overtime, he came through big time.

Reilly scored from close range with just 25 seconds left in overtime to lift the New Milford High boys lacrosse team to a hard-fought 8-7 victory over New Fairfield on Tuesday night.

"It's a good win, it's nice to get off the schneid against New Fairfield," New Milford coach Brendan Talbot said. "We haven't beaten them in about six years and this is the third time we've gone to overtime against them during that time and the first time we've won."

The Green Wave got that elusive victory over the Rebels thanks to Reilly, who committed a couple of turnovers down the stretch in the fourth quarter of a tight 7-7 game. Talbot decided to keep Reilly in the game and his faith paid off.

"I couldn't be more proud of Chris the way he hung in there," Talbot said. "He threw the ball away a couple times there in the fourth quarter and I almost took him out that last possession, but he's a senior captain and I believe in him and he paid it back."

After a timeout with 1:35 to go in overtime, New Milford worked a possession against the New Fairfield zone defense. Reilly found some room right in front of the goal and with the defense keying on Alex MacDonald (four goals), Reilly took a pass in front and spun in one motion, unleashing a shot for the game-winner.

"I was having a hard time in the fourth quarter throwing the ball away but I give all the credit to my teammates who kept us in the game and gave us a chance in overtime," Reilly said. "The defense was paying attention to Alex and I found spot in the crease and took the pass, turned around and shot. To see it go in felt really good."

The shot went in and the Green Wave stormed the field to celebrate while the Rebels were left to think about a close loss.

"We had some chances and we didn't convert and give them credit, they had an opportunity and made the most of it," New Fairfield coach Marty Morgan said. "It's a rivalry game and you can throw everything out the window. We knew it was going to be tough and it was. I thought it would be a game where the team with the last possession would win and that's what happened."

New Fairfield came out and took a 2-1 lead after the first quarter and led 4-1 at the break. The Rebels' zone defense perplexed the Green Wave, who were having trouble getting off shots, let alone scoring goals.

New Milford found its rhythm in the third quarter, out-scoring New Fairfield, 6-2, to take a 7-6 lead into the fourth. MacDonald scored 58 seconds into the third to make it 4-2 and he capped a long possession with a goal with 8:45 left in the quarter to cut the deficit to 4-3. Just over two minutes later MacDonald scored again and gave the Green Wave a 5-4 lead.

"They run a pretty unique zone and it's hard to prepare for it until you see it," Talbot said. "We kept going to MacDonald, out offense goes through him and he got going there in the third quarter and we got back in the game."

Matt Altman scored three goals and Liam Moriarty added two for New Fairfield.

"We were up 4-1 and we fell asleep for a stretch there in the third quarter and that hurt," Morgan said. "We knew who their shooter was and we didn't get out on him and he made the plays. He made some nice shots and scored goals that got them going."